"Sum of the Parts"
Disclaimer : Don't own the characters.
A.N. : A big thanks to those who're still bearing with me on this long fic. Quite a lot of Natsumi and Paul in this chapter. Hope you like. As always, please keep those reviews coming because I really do love to hear from you!
ENJOY!
Chapter4 : Get Backers Sidekick Natsumi
It was nearing mid-afternoon and the Get Backers had yet to get back anything, but already they had lost close to a hundred grand in the form of Clayman's informant fee and a ticket for parking illegally in front of the hotel.
"That son of a bitch Kojio is costing us a fortune!" Ban cursed in utter dismay. "However this turns out, I swear I'm going to make him pay."
Ban and Ginji were back at the Honky Tonk. Even though they arrived together, only Ban was pelted with a hail of seeds and berries dropped by the persistent sparrow and some of his friends.
They sat, bored, at the counter, waiting impatiently for Kojio's phone call. Natsumi sat giddily between them, nervous, excited, and eagerly anticipating her chance to help the Get Backers with their mission.
Ginji's head was nestled in his arms on the counter, his gaze fixed on the cellphone. "Ban-chan, are you sure he's going to call?"
"If Kojio's the horndog that I think he is, he'll call," Ban answered, idly playing with his lighter.
Paul leaned against the refrigerator and crossed his arms. A look of concern was evident on his face. "Can't one of you guys answer the phone yourself? "I'm not sure Natsumi should involve herself in this."
"Duh. Do we sound like teenage girls to you? Ban exasperatingly replied. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but when you're calling for a date with a girl, you kinda expect to hear a female voice, right?"
Paul sighed and approached Natsumi. Whatever ounce of paternal instinct he had inside him was kicking in. "Are you sure you're okay with this? 'Cause if you're not – "
"Don't worry, boss," Natsumi smiled brightly. "I know what enjo kosai is. I know what to do."
The three men instantly turned and stared at her with gaping mouths.
"Silly." Natsumi blushed. "What I meant was, I know what to say to the guy." They all breathed a collective sigh of relief.
She turned the pages of the journal in front of her. Apparently, she made some notes.
"Some of the girls in my class have tried doing it. The process is pretty straightforward, actually," Natsumi explained clearly and confidently. "First, you make small talk and feel each other out. Then the girl sets the ground rules and both parties negotiate, um…" She struggled for the right words "… what - acts she's expected to perform and, er… for how long. If he agrees…"
The guys continued to gawk at Natsumi. They couldn't help but smile dumbly at how their sweet, innocent high school waitress was suddenly sounding so – grown up.
"… they discuss a price. Usually, it's around 50,000 yen. But sometimes, if you're a… a virgin…" she stammered slightly. "… the rate can go up to 80,000."
"Tell him to make it 100,000," Ban interrupted. "You're definitely worth more than eighty grand."
"Ban-chan!" Ginji dissented strongly. "Natsumi's worth can't be measured by any price! Isn't that right, Boss?"
"Mmm-hmm," Paul nodded.
Natsumi looked to Ginji on her left, the flush on her lovely face deepening. He, in turn, gave her his most sincere smile; pure and without a trace of malice.
Ban felt he was going to be sick.
She immediately regained her composure and giggled softly. "Anyway, the conversation usually ends with details on where to meet and what time. Oh, and sometimes the guy will be helpful by saying he'll be wearing something identifiable, like a pin on the coat lapel or something like that."
Ban stood up and put his arm around Natsumi's shoulders. "See? What did I tell you, Paul? You don't have to worry about such a clever girl. Natsumi's a real pro."
Paul shot Ban a dagger look.
He realized his unintentional pun. "I didn't mean pro, prostitute. I meant pro, profe - oh, forget it!"
Ban turned to Natsumi. "Listen, just remember what I told you. All you have to do is turn on your charm and say yes to everything Kojio says. We want him to think your service is going to be so worth his money."
"Don't sound too excited or desperate. Act like what he's asking for is nothing new to you," Paul suggested.
" – And don't give your real name," Ginji piped in.
"- And let him suggest the time and place," Ban reminded. " And if he balks at 100,000 yen, tell him you'll throw in an extra hour free."
"Ban-chan!"
"You're not seriously considering collecting on this bugger, are you?" Paul asked incredulously.
"When I stick the Jagan on this dickhead and he just happens to fork over the dough in the middle of his dream – hell, why not?" Ban stubbornly defended himself. "Like I said, one way or another, I'm getting my money back."
Natsumi looked at Ban, then Paul, and Ginji, and back to Ban again as they tossed suggestion after suggestion at her. Finally, she cut in loudly.
"Guys! Guys! I've got it covered. Trust me," she winked.
And then the phone rang.
---
Everybody stared stupidly with disbelief at the mobile phone as it rang twice. Suddenly realizing that was her cue, Natsumi bounced of her seat and grabbed the phone and her journal.
"This is it. Wish me luck!" she exclaimed, heading off by herself to the farthest booth.
Ginji stood up to follow her. "Natsumi-chan…"
Ban held him back. "Natsumi has to do this on her own. She'll be fine."
Instead of her usual ebullient, high-pitched tone, they overheard Natsumi use an uncharacteristically cool, subdued, almost sensual voice when she answered the phone.
"Your fantasy is our pleasure. My name is Midori. How may I be of service to you..."
The minutes passed as the Get Backers sat anxiously at the counter trying to catch snippets of Natsumi's conversation with Kojio. Either she was a good actress or she was actually holding her own quite well – always answering in the affirmative, injecting a girlish laugh here and there and jotting down notes as she went.
"Okay. Eight o'clock then… I see… A dark blue suit with a gray handkerchief in the pocket… yes… the terms are acceptable… of course… You have a good day, sir…. Good-bye."
Natsumi hung up and rushed toward the counter.
"I did it! I can't believe I did it!" she shouted happily while jumping up and down, her face a picture of triumph.
"Nice work, Natsumi," Paul complimented proudly.
"Wow! You sounded so different. I think he really fell for you – Midori," Ginji teased.
"Hee!" she giggled bashfully.
"Yeah. Okay. Good job," Ban quipped impatiently. "So. Where does he want to meet you – or shall I say – us?"
Natsumi calmed herself down and flipped open her notes. "Well, here's the thing. You said I should agree to everything Kojio asked for, except the price, yes?"
"Uh, yeah," he held his breath, sensing he wasn't going to like where this was heading.
"He offered 70,000 yen for two hours. I refused. I said 100,000 for three hours. But then he thought awhile and said he was willing to give 180,000 for three hours provided I… er… Midori, brings, um, a companion," Natsumi explained. She checked her notes, making sure she got the details straight.
"I said, 'okay'." She nervously glanced up at Ban.
"That geezer wants a threesome?" Paul sneered in disgust. "From the looks of him, how on earth can his heart even take it?"
"What's a 'threesome'?" Ginji naively inquired.
Ban was unconcerned, mentally scolding himself for getting worried prematurely. "It's all right Natsumi. The more money, the better."
"You are something else," Paul shook his head.
"What's the big deal? It's not as if Kojio will actually get a chance to screw two chicks anyway," he scoffed. Once we get to the love hotel meeting place, I'll use the Evil Eye before he knows what hit him."
Ban laid a hand on Natsumi's shoulder. "Okay. So, where's this hotel Kojio wants to go to?"
"Oh. He didn't give a name of a hotel. He said he wants to meet up for drinks first at a club," she answered enthusiastically. "A costume club in Shibuya called…" She glanced at her journal. "…'Dolce Vita'."
The boys were speechless. It was as though they had forgotten something important – like breathing.
Ginji turned to his partner. "This is part of the plan, right, Ban-chan?"
Ban gulped. Now he could get worried.
---
"Say again? Are you sure Kojio didn't mention anything about a hotel?" Ban implored. He definitely was not liking his options right now.
Natsumi scanned her scribbles carefully. "Positive. He just said 'Club Dolce Vita, 8:00 PM'." Her eyes began to water. "I'm so sorry, Ban-san. Have I done something wrong?"
"No, you haven't," Paul insisted. He then chastised the Get Backers. "Didn't it occur to you that maybe the guy would like to – I don't know – meet his dates first before having sex with them?"
Ban grimaced, his hand scrunching his hair. "How was I supposed to know Kojio was going to get all gallant and gentlemanly on us? Usually, it's get to the hotel then 'Wham! Bam! Thank you, ma'am', if you know what I mean."
Ginji and Natsumi were two people who didn't really know what he meant. They sat beside each other, heads slightly bowed, embarrassed at all the sexual references.
"You guys can't follow through on a plan, as usual. It's a miracle you're still in business!" Paul argued.
"A little oversight, that's all," Ban grunted.
"Can't you use the Jagan on Kojio in the club?"
"I doubt we can get much out of him within a minute in such a noisy, crowded area," Ban admitted with deep frustration. "Plus, I don't think he'll appreciate two strange guys approaching him in the first place."
"Hmph! So you need girls on this job. Where the hell are you going to find two female volunteers to pose as Kojio's dates, quote-unquote?" Paul challenged.
"Ahem. Er, excuse me," Natsumi interjected timidly. "I think you'll only need one female volunteer. I forgot to tell you – that companion Kojio was requesting? Um… He wants a teenage boy – " She hesitated, obviously revolted.
" – dressed as a little girl."
"A tranny!" Ban slammed his fist into the counter. "And you said yes to that?"
"You said I should agree to everything he said," Natsumi replied defiantly, frowning.
"That's what you said, Ban. More money, the better, right?" Paul accused sarcastically.
"Godammit!" Ban paced back and forth on the Honky Tonk's wooden floor. "Who the hell is this guy? I swear I'm gonna kill that Clayman! How dare she involve the Get Backers in a freakin' fetish club. And she didn't say anything about Kojio being a total perv!"
Ginji felt compelled to defend Clayman. "You were in such a hurry to leave the museum you didn't hear her mention Kojio having 'exotic tastes' or something like that."
"Is that so?" Ban stopped in his tracks and patted his best friend on the back. "Well, since you were helpful enough to point that little tidbit out, you'll be a good boy and be helpful by satisfying those 'exotic tastes' of his."
Ginji's brown eyes grew the size of saucers. "Ban-chan!"
"Thank you for volunteering to be our transvestite, Ginji. Everyone appreciates your sacrifice."
"I'm not dressing like a girl. No way!"
"Tsk. Tsk. Of course, you can do it. You're a pro, aren't you?
"No! No! No! I don't care." Ginji mumbled dejectedly, knowing full well all resistance was futile.
Ban lit a cigarette and inhaled so hard he practically swallowed it. He felt close to having an aneurysm. "So that takes care of one problem. Now, for our girl."
"Himiko?" Paul proposed.
"In Kyoto delivering some very rare orchids," he snorted. "Besides, that tomboy won't pass for a Shibuya kogal 1 even if her life depended on it. Next?"
"Hevn?" Ginji offered blankly..
Ban gagged. "You've got to be kidding me. We're looking for teenagers, not hags with big boobs. Next!"
"Who else? Madoka?" Paul added.
"She may be blind, but she can kick ass. However, monkey-trainer will kick mine for even mentioning her. Next!"
"How about Sakura?" Ginji said. "She's cute and she's tough."
"That could work, but only if Samurai Boy accompanies her as the cross-dresser. I bet Thread Spool would love that," Ban grinned sardonically.
Pretty soon, their short-list ran out. Ban was absolutely mortified at finding out he could only count the women he knew closely on just one hand.
"This can't be right!" he protested incredulously. "How is it possible that all the girls we know either want us dead, broke or both? For crying out loud! Where are all the normal chicks?"
"Let's face it Ban-chan. We don't know any girls at all," Ginji moaned miserably. "Gosh. I didn't realize we were that pathetic."
"Speak for yourself, Ginji," Ban insisted obdurately. "I clearly remember knowing an Aiko, a Nami, and a Karin from somewhere…"
"Bar girls, no doubt," Paul snickered. "No, wait. I take that back.. You're so stingy no hostess or hooker would ever pay attention to you. Must be a figment of your own Jagan."
"You dare insinuate I'm not getting any?"
"Hey, you said it, not me."
"Paul! I swear I'll –"
" – Oh look! Your tab just sprouted another zero!"
While Ban and Paul insulted each other's sex life (or lack thereof), Natsumi slowly gathered up the courage to speak up and volunteer.
"Guys, you have a high school girl right here in front of you. I'd be more than willing –"
The bickering abruptly stopped. "NO!" Ban, Ginji and Paul simultaneously turned to her and vehemently chorused their objection.
Stunned by the outburst, Natsumi gasped sharply and almost fell from her seat. Shaking, she gripped the counter to steady herself. A tear fell on her crimson cheek. An uncomfortable silence followed.
"I just want to help, that's all," Natsumi sniffled softly. "I should've asked you first if the arrangement was okay before saying yes." She shook her head hard.
"This wouldn't have happened if not for me. It's my mistake. I have to fix it."
Ginji came over and gently put his hand over Natsumi's. His warm, flowing current of energy passed easily from his fingers to her fingers, spreading up, around, and through her until she felt the heaviness of her guilt being zapped away.
Natumi felt as if she could float on air. Am I imagining this? Is this the effect of his electricity – or something else?
"You don't have to fix anything," Ginji soothingly assured her. "This job is much too dangerous for you." He removed his hand off of her, sheepishly scratched his head and chuckled.
"But actually, we could have a lot of fun if we put on costumes, go to that club and play Kojio for the fool, don't you think?
"Gin-chan…" Natsumi looked up to the smiling blond with extreme surprise in her eyes.
"But…" his tone turned serious. "I know I wouldn't be able to control myself if Kojio laid even one finger on you. I'd have to stun him in front of all those people and we'd blow our cover."
Ban rolled his eyes. He couldn't believe Ginji had envisioned such a scenario in his airy head. What a sappy, romantic knight-in-shining-armor. However, Ban smiled despite himself.
Ginji turned his head towards his partner. "Besides this is all Ban-chan's fault anyway. And since there are no other alternatives, I think he agrees the only way he can fix this is by playing the part of the girl himself."
Ban stood frozen, face twisted and eyes crossed. His cigarette was slowly slipping from his lips.
"WHAT?"
Natsumi wiped the tear from her cheek and smiled. Ginji gave her hand a final squeeze and said, "You've helped us enough already."
Ban was cursing under his breath, walking zombie-like towards Ginji with his hand poised for a Snake Bite. But before he could claw at Ginji's head, Natsumi came between them
"Ban-san!" she exclaimed, taking his lethal, outstretched hand in hers. "You're so brave to take the place of a woman on this job. And I knew you couldn't leave Gin-chan to do this without you. How sweet!"
"Of course. Ban-chan would never forget the 'S' in Get Backers," Ginji winked, putting his arm around his best friend's rigid shoulders.
While Natsumi and Ginji fawned over him, Ban remained mute and in a stupor.
"I don't know if the name 'Midori' suits you at all," Paul jeered. "But at least, you'll have no trouble remembering it."
In a daze, Ban slowly sat on a bar stool and banged his head repeatedly on the counter. Maybe if I put myself in a coma, I can surely get out of this.
"Oi. Oi. Don't kill yourself just yet. Pay your debt first," Paul insisted, half-heartedly trying to stop the spiky-haired freeloader from chopping up the bar with his head.
"Oh! I know! I know!" Natsumi excitedly clapped her hands together, her gray eyes shining like polished silver. "I know what else I can do to help you out. My cousin belongs to the Drama Club of his all-boys private school nearby. He's about the size of both of you. I can borrow all of his costumes!"
"Eh. Hehe. That's – great, Natsumi-chan," Ginji stammered. He had been so preoccupied with making Natsumi feel better he almost forgot the reality of his absurd situation. Suddenly, he was feeling none too enthusiastic.
"He played 'Titania, the Fairy Queen' in last term's production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. He looked so sparkly and so pretty…"
"My God," Ban groaned wretchedly as he sprawled half his body on the counter in despair. "This is not happening…"
"… and I can do your make-up just like I did for Kazuki-san that other time…" Natsumi continued, as exuberant as a little girl playing with her first doll.
"Unnnhh…" Ginji whimpered, feeling faint.
"I can go to my cousin's right now. Hee! I'm so excited!" Natsumi fluttered about in a tizzy. She began untying her apron.
"Boss, can you handle things here?"
Paul nodded with an amused smile. "Do whatever you need to do. I'm not going anywhere." His eyes were laughing at the Get Backers from behind the round, dark glasses. "I wouldn't miss this for the world."
"Thanks!" I'll be back in an hour." Natsumi hung her apron on the coat hook, waved at everyone and skipped out of the Honky Tonk.
Ban buried his head in his arms and finally said, "Well, at least someone is happy about this whole thing."
Ginji sat on the stool beside his partner and laid his head on the bar. "Ban-chan?"
"Yeah?" he turned his head and their doleful eyes met.
"What have we gotten ourselves into?"
Ban took off his purple glasses and blinked. "My worst nightmare."
What do you think so far? Reviews please. I appreciate it. Thanks!
Next chapter : It's a drag being Get Backers on this job. Plus, Natsumi messes up Ginji real good (or bad).
(1) kogal : young women with highly disposable incomes or allowances who usually frequent the club circuits and shopping districts wearing heavy make-up, outrageous outfits and sporting designer accessories.